Centralizing and locking means for loaders



y 1942 B. RSHEETS 2,282,613

CENTRALIZING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LOADERS Filed Nov. 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

Balm R Sheets ATTORNEY.

May 12, 1942. B. R. SHEETS CENTRALIZING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LOADERS Filed Nov. 16, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BWZOIZ R Skees A TTORNE Y.

May 12, 19 1- B. R. SHEETS CENTRALIZING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LOADERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 16, 1940 I N V EN TOR. 5mm R S/aeels A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 12, 1942 UNITED STATES P'rNr-ToFrrcE CENTRALIZING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LOADERS Barton R. Sheets, Denver, 0010., assignor' to 1 Gardner-Denver Company, Quincy, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 16, 1940, Serial No. 365,969

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanical loaders and is more particularly directed to that type of unit adapted for loading loose material into a suitable transporting receptacle, such a as a mine car. a

The main object of the invention is to provide support, said support being movable to and fro within a super-structure pivoted vertically upon a traction truck or carriage and during the movement' of such shovel; locking the super-structure against lateral movement with respect to the truck,'thus serving to maintain the super-structure and the shovel operating therein in direct n alignment with the mine car.

Another object of the invention is to provide-a swinging shovel within a super-structure pivoted vertically to a truck, permitting lateral swing of the shovel in combinationwith a longitudinal. swing and during the latter movement, 'to lock the super-structure against relative movement with respect to the truck.

A further object of the invention is to provide means actuated during the longitudinal movement of the shovel, to align the super structure with the truck and at certain periods during the longitudinal swing of the shovel to lock the superstructure against further lateral movement.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and to all of these ends the invention consists of the features of, construction, arrangement of parts, and combination of elements, substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in the specification'and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the center of the loading unit, showing certain parts thereof in section and the shovel in its loading position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view taken on the line 7 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the locking means for a the super-structure in a non-functioning position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, disclosing the locking means in a functioning position, preventing lateral swing of the super-structure with respect to its truck.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the locking means disclosed in section in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2. a

Figure 6 is a top plan view of what is disclosed in Figure 1, and

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the movement of the locking means at varia loader having a shovel mounted upon a rocking element. I a

Briefly the invention herein about to be described is directed to-v a loading machine designed particularly for use in mine work and it naturally 'ous points in the movement of the shovel'carried follows that such a machine must be small andv compact in its structure and positive in its operationf I As is customary in units of this type, it includes a truck or carriage mounted upon suitable traction wheels, operable upon the usual mine track and having a source of power connected thereto.v Upon this truck is a body or super-structure rotatable about a vertical axis and having the necessary power means and controlling elements for moving a scoop shovel to a loading position and from the loading position to a dumping position, the dumping position being directly rearward'ly of the front face of the truck. 7 w

The main object of the present inventiondeals with the provision of a centralizing device for moving the super-structure into direct alignment with the longitudinal center of the truck during the movement of the shovel from loading to dumping positions and it further contemplates a means operable by a part of the centralizing device whereby the super-structure is definitely locked against lateral movementwith respect to the truck during the dumping operation.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding partsthroughout, the numeral 8 indicates in general a-traction truck or carriage and it includes a reversible. driving motor for its wheels 9, the motor being controlled in a manner common to units of this type.

Positioned upon the truck' for pivotable movement about a vertical axis Ill, is a body or superstructure composedof side walls 12, a base l3 and an end wall M. The super-structure is moved manually about its pivot 8 so that ore on the I8 are out and shaped to inter-mesh with the stationary racks l5.

Each gear segment l8 has formed integral therewith an outwardly extending arm l9 and to the ends of these arms is connected in any suitable manner a scoop shovel 20.

To move the gear elements It longitudinally of the racks I and guides [6, there is provided a suitable operating motor indicated at 2|, having a drive shaft 22 around which sprocket chains 23 are adapted tobe wound, one end of each chain being secured to the furthermost portion of each gear segment [8. The motor 2! may be of any desired type: but preferably one operated by pressure fluid and controlled by operating levers, not disclosed, positioned upon the outer side of the super-structure.

. With the structure hereinbefore described, it is I apparent that upon operation of the motor forming a part of the traction truck, the unit as a whole may be advanced upon the track into the material to be loaded and then upon operation of the motor 2|, the shovel 20 may be moved from its loading position disclosed in Figure 1 to its elevated dumping position common in units of this type. It is obvious that from the structure described, the super-structure is permitted to move about its vertical axis [0, whereby material lying on the outer sides of the track might be gathered Within the shovel,

During the movement of the shovel from loading to dumping position, means is provided whereby the super-structure is first centralized with respect to the traction truck and then looked definitely against further movement during the dumping action of the shovel, remaining in such a position until the shovel reaches approximately its loading position at which time the locking means is released permitting the super-structure-to be moved laterally with respect to the traction truck. This locking means includes a roller 24 rotatably'm'ounted in one end of an arm 25 the other end of which is mounted upon a cross brace 25' connecting the arms l9. Ordinarily this roller 24 is adapted to engage one or the other side of a wishbone 26 afixed rigidly to the vertical pin I0. Thus, it is obvious that during the movement of the shovel from its loading to dumping position, engagement of the roller 24 with either of the flared.

sidesof the wishbone 26, will, as the shovel continues to move, ultimately approach the apex of the wishbone, which is in direct alignment with the longitudinal axis of the traction truck and during the movement of the roller into the apex the super-structure is definitely aligned with the traction motor.

It naturally follows that as the shovel is moved from dumping to loading position, the roller 24 moves out of the apex of the wishbone into the flared portion and ultimately to a position whereby lateral movement of the super-structure is permitted without interference between the roller and the wishbone. This position permitting lateral movement of the super-structure is prior to the shovel assuming its loading position.

To definitely lock the super-structure against movement during the dumping of the shovel, the base plate l3 of the super-structure has cut therein, adjacent its front end, a transverse slot 21 and positioned over this slot is a housing 28, its upper portion being closed by a movable plate 29, one end of which is journalled for movement about a bar 30 extending from one side of the housing 28 to the other. Uponreferring to Figure 1 it will be observed that the plate 29 curves upwardly as-it approaches its free end to a position whereby it might be engaged by the roller 24 during the movement of the shovel within the super-structure.

Positioned within the housing 28 and at right angles tothe pivot of the plate 29, is a second shaft 3| the ends of which are mounted within bearings forming a part of the housing and lying upon opposite sides of the transverse slot 21. Journalled for free movement midway of the shaft 3| are two oppositely extending arms 32 and 33, movable vertically through the transverse slot 21.

The arms 32- and 33 are provided on opposite sides of their pivots with extensions 34 and 35 respectively, both being engageable by bearing surfaces 36 formed on the underface of the pivoted plate 29.

To normally hold the arms 32 and :33 down and the plate 29 up in the path of the roller 24,

V the housing 28 is further provided with openings 3'! closed by removable cupped caps 38 within which are retained the ends of springs 39, the other ends of which are engageable with the upper faces. of the levers 32 and 33, causing the levers and the plate 29 to assume the positions disclosed in Figure 3.

' When the parts assume the position disclosed in Figure 3, the ends of the levers 32 and 33 are moved downward into contact with a bearing surface 49 formed on the upper face of some portion of the traction truck and upon alignment of the super-structure with the truck, the ends of the levers will ride over andfall behind detachable stops 4|, secured upon that portion of the truck.

From the foregoing description it is therefore apparent that when the shovel 20 approaches its loading position, the plate 29 is engaged by the roller 24 moving the plate down upon its pivot movement of the super-structure with respect to the traction truck'is permitted. Such a condition remains until the shovel has been loaded and approaches its dumping position, whereupon the roller 24 is moved free from engagement with the pivoted plate 29 permitting the plate to move up by action of the springs 39 which at the same time move the levers 32 and 33 down in a position to engage the active faces when the super-structure is aligned by the centralizing device previously described.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be, understood that various changes inthe size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the'advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a loading machine, a carriage, a superstructure mounted for lateral swinging movement thereon, a shovel carried by the superstructure and movable over the top thereof, a plate pivoted to the super-structure, an element actuated upon movement of the plate to lock the super-structure against movement, and said plate bein moved upon its pivot by the movement of the shovel from one position to the other.

2. In a loading machine, a carriage, a superstructure mounted for lateral swinging movement thereon, a shovel carried by the superstructure and movable over the top thereof, a plate movable with respect to the super-structure, an element actuated during the movement of the plate to lock the super-structure against lateral movement, and said plate being actuated upon movement of the shovel from one position to the other.

3. In a loading machine, a carriage, a super structure mounted for lateral swinging movement thereon, a shovel carried by the superstructure and movable over the top thereof, a guide element carried by the carriage, an element on the shovel engageable with the guide element to swing the super-structure from a laterally extending position to a position in alignment with the carriage upon the approach of the shovel to its dum'ping position, means locking the shovel against lateral movement, and said means including a member actuated by the shovel carried element prior to the shovel assuming its dumping position.

4. In a loading machine, a carriage, a superstructure mounted for lateral swinging movement thereon, a shovel carried by the superstructure and movable over the top thereof, coacting means carried by the shovel and carriage to align the super-structure with the carriage prior to the shovel assuming dumping position, an element pivoted to the super-structure and normally engageable with the carriage to lock the super-structure against lateral movement,

said element being actuated by the shovel carried means prior to the super-structure assuming aligned position with the carriage.

5. In a loading machine, a carriage, a'superstructure mounted for lateral swinging movement thereon, a shovel carried by the superstructure and movable over the top thereof, elements carried by the super-structure and normally engageable with the carriage to lock the super-structure against lateral swing, a member movable with the shovel and engageable with said elements, and said elements being moved out of locking relation with the carriage by the shovel carried member upon the approach of the shovel to loading position. j

6. In a loading machine, a carriage, a superstructure mounted for lateral swinging movement'thereon, elements carried by the superstructure and normally engageable with the carriage lockin the super-structure against lateral movement, a member carried by the shovel, and said member engaging the elements to move thereon out of locking relation with the carriage upon the approach of the shovel to one of its positions.

' '7. In a loading machine, a carriage, a superstructure mounted for lateral swinging movement thereon, a shovel carried by the superstructure and movable over the top thereof, elements carried by the carriage and shovel to align the super-structure with the carriage upon the approach of the shovel to its dumping position, means locking the super-structure against lateral movement, and said means includin a member operable by the shovel carried element during the movement of the shovel to its dumping position.

- BARTON R. SHEETS. 

